---

---

Over the last four days, I have been training hard under Luna's guidance. We repeated the same exercises and my skills are getting better, I'm still having trouble trying to locate Luna with my hearing, and I have plenty of bumps to prove it. She can still out teleport me easy, but my aiming with projectile spells has gotten pretty good, I'm now hitting bullseyes and second rings on the stationary targets and at least hit a moving target four times out of ten.

Twice I've found myself staring at Celestia in her workout outfit, where Luna teased me and got me to refocus, why she wasn't mad about it I don't know.

Luna and I are getting closer and she's even showing public displays of affection, even during our training sessions at the Grounds, where the guards howl and whistle when they catch us doing so, though Shining puts a stop to that quickly when it happens.

---

---

For two weeks we've been doing the same routine, I can now hear Luna much easier and half the time find her, I only get half the bumps I used to get. I'm much faster at teleporting now, it took Luna eight teleports to hit me this time.

My aim has gotten very good, I can bullseye the stationary target ninety percent of the time while getting a fifty percent chance at a moving target.

I can now lift one-hundred and fifty pounds easily and run for longer before getting tired. Celestia is still wearing that tight outfit, I got a nosebleed when she bent over stretching, trying to touch her hooves with her fingertips in front of me, and once again Luna teased me about it.

I've also got the feeling of being watched thanks to Luna's perception training, whether or not I'm imagining it, I don't know.

---

---

Today, Luna has given me the day off to go fishing with Shining, Hammer, and a few of the other guards. I'm carrying my pack with my lunch in it and I also have a water proof bag to hold any fish I catch to cook for later.

They get on a carriage where four pegasi guards pull it, I decide to practice with my air wings since I can now use two air elements instead of one and increase my gliding speed. I cast the spell and the wings flow from my shoulder blades, some of the guards are impressed by it.

The carriage takes off and I hesitate for a few seconds when I look over the edge of the mountain, I run and leap off the edge while having a heart attack doing so, I wobble a bit but stabilize pretty well. I glide behind the carriage where one of the guards inside waves at me through the back window.

After a ten minute flight we land beside the lake, more like slide across the grass in my case, I'll need to work on my landings, also my mana nearly feels empty... good thing I'm taking the carriage back up then. We all set up along the lake where me, Shining and Hammer stick together.

We're all sitting on foldable chairs, each with a rod in hand and a bottle of cider in the other.

"So how's your training coming along? From what I can see at the Grounds, you're doing great," Shining asks.

"Yeah, it's going good, but at the end of the day I feel like I just want to sleep for a week," I reply.

They both chuckle and Shining's rod goes taut, he starts pulling and reeling it in with Hammer cheering him on.

He pulls it out and it's a decent sized bass, about the size of his head. "Nice catch!" Hammer says and takes a sip of his cider.

Hammers line then starts moving like crazy and he quickly pulls and reels it in, Shining and I laugh as Hammer holds a small fish the size of his hand near his face. The fish then starts wiggling and slaps him in the face and we just lose it, I fall off my chair holding my sides.

Hammer groans and puts the fish back in the lake before sitting back down with his arms crossed.

five minutes later I get a bite and start reeling it in, it's a huge struggle, whatever this thing is, it's big.

It starts pulling me towards the lake and I quickly cast my stone armour spell to give me extra weight and stop it pulling me, Shining and Hammer both help pull and after a good two minute fight, we pull it out. It's an eel as long as I am tall.

"What the buck? What's an Everfree Eel doing in the lake?" Hammer says.

I zap it with a lightning element and it goes limp. "...Is it edible?" I ask.

They look at me with wide eyes. "Why would you want to know that?" Hammer asks.

"I haven't had any meat in awhile, thought I'll just cook it here and be set for a few days," I reply.

"Ah yes, I remember Twily mentioned you eat meat as well as plants," Shining says.

"Yup, so... is it edible?" I ask again.

"I guess so, it has no poisonous or toxic parts," Shining tells me.

"Alright then, you two continue fishing, I'm going to cook it," I tell them. Shining doesn't look that bothered, but Hammer looks queasy.

"It's not that bad Hammer, think of it this way, we now have a meat eater on our side!" Shining tells Hammer.

Hammer's eyebrows rise up slowly as it just dawns on him. "Well damn, do you think he can eat a gryphon?" Hammer says with a chuckle.

"Get me some pepper, seasoning and barbecue sauce and we'll find out," I tell them as I cast a single fire element and spray the eel after I finished gutting it.

They laugh, but then gag at the smell of cooking meat. After a good two minutes of spraying the eel on both sides, it looks crispy and ready. I cut a section off and take a bite, holy crap this tastes good!

I finish a third of it off and place the rest in the bag Luna gave me.

Hammer gets another bite and this time, reels in a bigger fish three times his hand's size.

An hour passes and it's time to head back, the other guards all caught some fish but I caught the biggest with the eel, I also caught three bass about twelve inches long each. I hop in the carriage and apologize for the cooked eel smell coming from the bag.

They all chatted amongst themselves as I watched the landscape roll by, we arrive at the castle where the guards and Captains head back to the Barracks. I head off to the kitchen to place the rest of the eel and bass in a fridge.

Once done, I join Luna and Celestia in the Throne Room with my armour equipped and play my role as their knight by guarding them, much to Luna's delight and Celestia's amusement.

During my time with them, Nobles made requests and propositions to the Princesses, some were legitimate reasons, such as expanding farmlands to grow more crops, while others were just plain stupid. Like a Noble is asking Celestia to raise the taxes for lower and middle class citizens and lower the taxes for the Nobles...

It was so stupid I just told him to get out without thinking, Luna smirked at me while Celestia just shook her head with a very faint smile.

The Noble throws a hissy fit that would make a child look mature and demanding that I get thrown into the dungeons for speaking out of term.

"We believe Sir Adrian is correct, the taxes are fine as they are and there is no need to alter them," Luna sternly tells him, still with her smirk.

The Noble goes red in the face and storms out, Celestia gives me a stern stare but the faint smile remains. "Adrian, although you were correct to deny his request, it is our duty to pass such judgements," she tells me.

I just grin sheepishly. "Sorry, but you have to admit, he was pretty dense."

Luna giggles. "Don't be, we found it entertaining," she says.

"Luna..." Celestia says and mockingly glares at Luna, who just looks back at her with an innocent smile and a shrug of her shoulders.

After that, a few of the Nobles leave the line and out the door in a hurry, I guess they also had just as ridiculous requests.

Once court was done for the day, Celestia goes back to her office while Luna brings me back to her room.

"So what do you want to do?" I ask her.

"We wish to cuddle up with a good book," she says and get's into her nightgown. I strip down to my trousers and we both lie on the bed with her cuddled up beside me and a book floating in front of us, it appears to be a book about a tan coloured woman with black and grey hair going on adventures.

We read for an hour and Luna got me to read it aloud to her.

"Daring then flies across the chasm, escaping the thugs of Ahuizotl yelling at her as she runs down the cave's tunnels. Daring comes across a large cavern with moss covered walls and a small lake. In the centre of the lake is a small island with ruined pillars and a pedestal, a ruby skull sitting upon it."

"She flies over and reaches to grab it but Ahuizotl stands in front of her, blocking her path as he laughs. "You think you can take what's mine and just leave my dear?" he taunts her."

"Daring gets her whip out and cracks it on the floor. "I don't see your name on it." She replies with a smirk."

"They both get ready to fight for the ruby skull, Ahuizotl leaps at Daring as she pulls her whip back and..." I stop reading as I hear the soft breathing of Luna as she fell asleep.

I smile and place the book on the night stand and fall asleep as well.

---

---

Luna and I are back at the Training Grounds where she now has me training to increase my mana pool. The best way for me to do that is to use my magic and rest afterwards, so for the last four days she's had me practising with my other elements during the day while I read up on how to create mines in the evening after a quick workout at the gym.

So far I can make one mine and I'm starting with the healing mines which is just a shield and life element together.

My mana pool over these two weeks and six days has improved nicely, I can fight for much longer now before getting tired.

---

---

I've never felt so sore. My mana pool has increased, but I feel like a pack of wolves used me as a chew toy. Luna gave me today off to rest and I decided to take her out on a date at a nice café.

We're walking down the streets in casual clothing, though I still have my sword and stave with me.

"It is nice of thou to take us out for the day," Luna tells me.

"I thought we both could use a day off and relax, beating me to a pulp must be very exhausting for you," I cheekily say to her.

She playfully shoves me a bit as we walk towards our destination hand in hand. People bow to Luna and she nodded back, I get that feeling that someone is watching me again, and I don't think it's the citizens.

We arrive at the 'Golden Roast Café', a small coffee shop that I visit now and then when I decide to go out to eat.

I open the door for Luna and she thanks me as she enters. "Good afternoon, Mocha!" I greet the woman behind the counter.

"Adrian! How are you doing? I haven't seen you all week, you been kept busy?" she asks then notices Luna. "Princess!" she says in surprise and trips over herself trying to go around the counter.

Luna giggles lightly as I help her up. "Eh-heh. Erm, welcome to the Golden Roast Café, Princess! Would you like a private booth?" Mocha asks Luna.

"That will not be necessary, a table for two would be just fine," Luna replies.

Mocha nodded and leads us to a table with two chairs. We sit down and I look around. I notice a few of the other customers are looking at us shocked and a couple disgusted. This is a popular spot for the Nobles due to the great quality of the food and drinks served here. I guess they're still upset with me for courting Luna or from what I said at the Gala.

"What would you two like?" Mocha asks us.

"I'll have my usual please," I reply.

"We'll have what he's having," Luna says.

"Okay. I'll be right back!" she says writing it down.

I ignore the stares directed at us. "So, how's Celestia been handling the nations problems while you've been training me?" I ask Luna.

"She has been doing fine, but we can tell she is starting to feel stressed about it, and the fact a small gryphon hunting party tried attacking a small town near the border has her even more aggravated." She tells me.

"Did we suffer any casualties?" I ask.

"A few guards were injured and one lost her life, but the five gryphons were all put down. Seems the gryphons didn't take the guards seriously," she replies. "Oh, also, starting tomorrow, we shall be training thee deep In the Everfree Forest," she tells me.

I raise an eye brow at her. "Won't it be a hassle to go back and forth everyday?" I ask confused.

"Nay, thou still has thy camping gear correct?" she asks back.

"Yeah, it's with my pack... why?" I tell her.

"Then we shall pack enough for two weeks there, we shall see how thou fairs against the beasts and monsters that call it home," she replies.

My eyebrows both rise up. "You want me to fight the beasts of the Everfree Forest?" I ask her surprised.

"Yes, we wish to see how well your training is coming along," she says.

I'm not as sure as she is, but if it'll help me get stronger... then alright. Our lunch arrives and Mocha puts the plates and drinks in front of us.

We both have a large sandwich with lettuce, cheese, tomato, cucumber, and a sweet tasting mayo in it. We both have a cup of green tea and a couple of biscuits as well.

We start to eat and the stares and glares continue towards us. "Mayhap we should have taken a private booth..." Luna says quietly, also noticing their stares.

"Just ignore them, they want to be jealous and petty, that's their problem. This moment is just about us, don't let them get to you and ruin it," I reply and lightly squeeze her hand. She smiles, leans over and kisses me. I hear a growl of disgust but ignore it.

We finish our lunch and I pay the bill of twenty-four bits. Luna want's to go for a walk through the park and I oblige her.

She wraps her arms around my right arm and leans her head on my shoulder as we sit on a park bench. Children are playing with each other their parents in the open field and Luna just watches on with a smile. I rest my head on hers and we just sit there for a few minutes.

"We thank thee for taking us out today," she says and stands up. "but we must return to help our sister with the paperwork," she tells me and we head back to the Castle. She then informs me she will see me tonight and left me to find something to occupy myself with. I head back to Luna's room to read more of my spell book.

On the way I hear something moving behind me, I guess Luna's perception lessons are paying off. I turn to see a shadow just hide behind a potted plant. "Who's there," I state.

I grip my stave tightly and continue to walk and the noise of something like cloth being lightly dragged across the floor follows me. I channel a life element into my stave and quickly turn around and fire a beam at the shadow on the wall, it's startled and quickly slithers away.

I watch it go with a frown, I'll tell Luna and Celestia when it's time for dinner. I arrive at the bedroom with no sign of the shadow behind me, so I enter and sit on the bed with my book.

I take a break after three hours of reading and do some exercises to stretch my limbs. I then returned to read for another two hours, continuing my study on the air element and practised channelling it with other elements. A maid then comes by to tell me dinner is ready.

I thank her and head down to the Dining Hall where I tell Luna and Celestia about the shadow.

"It could be that assassin again?.." Luna wonders.

"What do we do about it? Has Night Blade found anything yet?" I ask.

"She believes so, but she needs more time to investigate it," Luna tells me.

Dinner arrives and we chat while eating. Celestia, as Luna said, looks very stressed. She's been dealing with the Nobles and the gryphon problem almost every day since the attack at the Gala. Luna assured her that after the next two weeks, she'll help her with it.

Celestia asks what's happening over the next two weeks and Luna tells her about the training in the Everfree Forest. To say she wasn't happy about it was an understatement.

"Are you sure you have to do this? Wouldn't a simple test against the other guards suffice?" Celestia asks Luna.

"Nay, we wish to see what Adrian can do going, as they say, 'all out'. He cannot show his full power against the guard, thus, we shall face the beasts of the Everfree," she replies.

Celestia sighs. "This isn't like the days when we were fillies, Luna... but alright. Just come back if things get too dangerous," Celestia tells us.

"Of course, sister," Luna replies.

We finish our meals and say goodnight. Luna and I head back to her room. We wash and change into our night wear, then we both go to bed and fall asleep.

---

---

I yawn and notice Luna is missing, I look around and see a few bags on the floor next to my pack.

Luna steps out of her closet fully armoured along with her scythe. "Thou needs to get up, it's time to go!" she says in a rather happy tone.

"Why are you so *yawn* excited?" I ask her and stretch.

"Tis been many years since we have gone camping, we are looking forward to it," she tells me.

I shrug and get my clothes, armour, and weapons on. I place two spare sets of clothes in my pack along with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Luna puts her own pack on and carries another in her hand.

"We shall head down for breakfast first, then we shall fly to the Everfree. It will be good for thee to practise with thy wings," she tells me and gives me a kiss.

We head down for breakfast where Celestia still looks unsure about us going, no Blueblood once again. We say our goodbyes after we finish and Luna practically drags me along with a big smile on her face.

We're both standing by the edge of the city and I cast my air wings spell. "Are thou ready?" she asks.

"Yeah, I take it I'm following you?" I ask. She nodded and jumps off, I jump off following behind her.

We fly for a few minutes, well I'm gliding, over Ponyville and right above the Everfree. We both land in a small clearing, I stumble my landing and trip over which gets Luna to laugh and then help me up.

"Thou needs to work on thy landing," she tells me. She looks around seemingly to find something. "As a filly, there was a cave nearby that we used to camp in, but the forest has changed much since we were last here," she says sadly, still looking around.

Her expression then lightens up. "Ah we remember now! Tis this way!" she says and starts walking. I dust myself off and follow behind her.

After a ten minute walk, nothing of interest happens as we reach her destination. "Here it is!" she exclaims and walks in.

After a few seconds of walking, we enter a large cavern with a large pile of gems and gold in the middle.

"Whoa... where did all of that come from?" I ask.

A low rumble echoes throughout the cavern as the pile moves. A large green reptilian head pops out of the pile and its slitted orange eyes glare at us.

I stare wide eyed at it while Luna growls. "What is a dragon doing in the Everfree Forest!?"

Next Chapter: Chapter 18: Dragons, Treasure and Revelations Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 35 Minutes